Gas supply device, hydrogen station, and gas supply method

ABSTRACT

A gas supply device includes a first compressor that compresses hydrogen gas, an accumulator disposed downstream of the first compressor and supplying the hydrogen gas to a dispenser that fills the hydrogen gas in a vehicle, and a gas flow passage that connects the first compressor, the accumulator, and the dispenser, and a control device. The gas flow passage includes a lead-in line for leading the hydrogen gas into the accumulator, a lead-out line for leading out the hydrogen gas from the accumulator, a lead-in side valve, and a lead-out side valve. The control device is capable of simultaneously bringing the lead-in side valve and the lead-out side valve into an open state.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of and claims the benefit ofpriority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 from U.S. application Ser. No.15/118,577, filed Aug. 12, 2016, the entire contents of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference and is a national stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/JP2015/051470, filed Jan. 21, 2015,which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-026433, filed Feb. 12, 2014.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a gas supply device, a hydrogenstation, and a gas supply method.

BACKGROUND ART

There has been known a gas supply device that temporarily stores gassupplied from a hydrogen producing device and supplies the stored gas toa gas dispenser as disclosed in Patent Literature 1 described below.Specifically, in the gas supply device of this type, a hydrogencompressor and an accumulator are provided in a pipe. The gas led infrom the hydrogen producing device is compressed by the hydrogencompressor, and the gas compressed by the hydrogen compressor is storedin the accumulator. The gas stored in the accumulator is supplied to thedispenser according to a pressure difference between a gas pressure inthe accumulator and a gas pressure on the dispenser side (differentialpressure filling operation). Therefore, during the differential pressurefilling operation, the gas pressure in the accumulator gradually drops.If the gas pressure in the accumulator is low after the differentialpressure filling operation, the gas pressure in the accumulator can berecovered by performing storing operation.

There are the following problems in the configuration for performing thestoring operation after the differential pressure filling operation torecover the gas pressure in the accumulator. When a supply command fromthe dispenser is frequently issued or when the number of accumulators issmall, the gas in the accumulator is consumed in a short period. Sincethe gas pressure in the accumulator greatly drops, it takes time toreturn the gas pressure in the accumulator to a set pressure. Hydrogenfilling in a vehicle cannot be quickly resumed.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.2013-40648

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to suppress a gas pressure in anaccumulator from dropping.

A gas supply device according to an aspect of the present inventionincludes: a compressor that compresses gas; an accumulator disposeddownstream of the compressor and supplying the gas to filling equipmentthat fills the gas in a tank mounting device; and a gas flow passagethat connects the compressor, the accumulator, and the fillingequipment. The gas flow passage includes: a lead-in line for leading thegas from the compressor into the accumulator; a lead-out line forleading out the gas from the accumulator to the filling equipment; alead-in side valve provided in the lead-in line; and a lead-out sidevalve provided in the lead-out line. The gas supply device furtherincludes a control device that controls opening and closing of thelead-in side valve and the lead-out side valve. The control device isconfigured to be capable of simultaneously bringing the lead-in sidevalve and the lead-out side valve into an open state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of agas supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow for explaining a gas supply method bythe gas supply device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a transition of a gas pressure on adispenser side during gas supply by the gas supply device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of agas supply device according to another example.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the gas supply device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A mode for carrying out the present invention is explained in detailbelow with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a gas supply device 10 according to this embodimentis provided in, for example, a hydrogen station functioning as a fuelingstand of hydrogen gas. According to a filling command from a dispenser12, which is filling equipment, the gas supply device 10 supplies thehydrogen gas to the dispenser 12 side. That is, the hydrogen stationincludes the gas supply device 10 and the dispenser 12 connected to anoutflow end of the gas supply device 10. The dispenser 12 fills thehydrogen gas in a tank provided in a vehicle 14 (a tank mountingdevice). The vehicle 14 is, for example, a fuel-cell vehicle.

The gas supply device 10 includes a first compressor 22, a secondcompressor 24, a storage tank 26, an accumulator 30, a gas flow passage16, and a controller 58 (a control device). The gas flow passage 16includes a main channel 161 and a short-circuit passage 162. The mainchannel 161 connects a gas supply source 20, the second compressor 24,the first compressor 22, the accumulator 30, and the dispenser 12. Theshort-circuit passage 162 connects the first compressor 22 and thedispenser 12 not through the accumulator 30. An inflow end 16 a, towhich the gas supply source 20 is connectable, is provided at anupstream end of the main channel 161. An outflow end 16 b, to which thedispenser 12 is connectable, is provided at a downstream end of the mainchannel 161.

The first compressor 22 is configured by a reciprocating compressor thatrotates a not-shown crankshaft with driving of a not-shown motor toreciprocatingly move a piston. In the first compressor 22, a not-showndischarge valve opens and the hydrogen gas is discharged when thehydrogen gas is compressed and the pressure in a cylinder (a compressionchamber) rises to be equal to or higher than the pressure in the gasflow passage 16 on a discharge side. Note that the first compressor 22is not limited to the reciprocating compressor and may be configured bya compressor of a type other than the reciprocating compressor.

The second compressor 24 is disposed further on the upstream side thanthe first compressor 22 in the main channel 161. A small compressorhaving a compression capacity smaller than the compression capacity ofthe first compressor 22 may be used as the second compressor 24. Thestorage tank 26 is connected to the gas flow passage 16 through aconnection passage 28 connected to a part between the second compressor24 and the first compressor 22 in the main channel 161. In the gassupply device 10, the hydrogen gas having low pressure in the gas supplysource 20 is compressed by the second compressor 24. The gas dischargedfrom the second compressor 24 is stored in the storage tank 26. Thehydrogen gas in the storage tank 26 is sucked by the first compressor22. Note that, actually, not-shown various valves are provided betweenthe storage tank 26 and the first compressor 22 and between the storagetank 26 and the second compressor 24. Lead-in of the hydrogen gas intothe storage tank 26 and lead-out of the hydrogen gas from the storagetank 26 are controlled.

The accumulator 30 is provided in a part between the first compressor 22and the outflow end 16 b in the main channel 161. The accumulator 30 isa component for temporarily storing the hydrogen gas. The accumulator 30stores the hydrogen gas compressed by the first compressor 22. Thehydrogen gas is filled in the accumulator 30 in advance by the firstcompressor 22. The pressure in the accumulator 30 is a set pressure(e.g., 82 MPa). In FIG. 1, one accumulator 30 is provided. However, twoor more accumulators 30 may be provided.

In the following explanation, a part for leading the hydrogen gas fromthe first compressor 22 into the accumulator 30 located on thedownstream side of the first compressor 22 in the main channel 161 isreferred to as “lead-in line 18 a”. A part for leading out the hydrogengas from the accumulator 30 to the dispenser 12 is referred to as“lead-out line 18 b”. In the lead-in line 18 a, a check valve 33, alead-in side valve 34, which is a valve member on a lead-in side, and afirst on-off valve 41 are provided. The lead-in side valve 34 isconfigured by an air driving valve that performs only switching of anopening degree. The check valve 33 allows only a flow toward theaccumulator 30 and blocks a flow in a flowing out direction from theaccumulator 30. Note that the lead-in side valve 34 may be a valve otherthan the air driving valve. The first on-off valve 41 is disposedbetween the first compressor 22 and the check valve 33/the lead-in sidevalve 34.

In the lead-out line 18 b, a check valve 37, a lead-out side valve 38,which is a valve member on a lead-out side, and a second on-off valve 42are provided. The lead-out side valve 38 is configured by an air drivingvalve. The check valve 37 allows a flow in a flowing out direction fromthe accumulator 30 and blocks a flow toward the accumulator 30. Thesecond on-off valve 42 is disposed between the dispenser 12 and thecheck valve 37/the lead-out side valve 38.

The short-circuit passage 162 of the gas flow passage 16 short-circuitsa part between the first on-off valve 41 and the check valve 33/thelead-in side valve 34 of the lead-in line 18 a and a part between thesecond on-off valve 42 and the check valve 37/the lead-out side valve 38of the lead-out line 18 b.

A return channel 45 is connected to the gas flow passage 16. One endportion of the return channel 45 is connected to a part between adischarge section of the first compressor 22 and the first on-off valve41. The other end portion of the return channel 45 is connected to apart between a suction section of the first compressor 22 and aconnection place of the connection passage 28. A return valve 46 isprovided in the return channel 45. When the return valve 46 is opened, apart or the entire hydrogen gas discharged from the first compressor 22is returned to the upstream side of the first compressor 22.

The gas supply device 10 includes a first pressure sensor 48, which is apressure detecting section. The first pressure sensor 48 is disposed inthe short-circuit passage 162. The pressure of the hydrogen gas measuredby the first pressure sensor 48 is equivalent to the pressure in theaccumulator 30.

The controller 58 controls driving of the first compressor 22 and thesecond compressor 24 and controls opening and closing of the firston-off valve 41, the second on-off valve 42, the lead-in side valve 34,the lead-out side valve 38, and the return valve 46.

In the dispenser 12, an adapter 51, a supply passage 52 that connectsthe adapter 51 and the outflow end 16 b of the gas flow passage 16, aflow-rate control valve 53 provided in the supply passage 52, and asecond pressure sensor 54, which is a pressure detecting section, areprovided. The adapter 51 is attached to a gas supply port of the vehicle14 when the hydrogen gas is supplied. The flow-rate control valve 53 isconfigured by an air driving valve. Note that a flow-rate control valveother than the air driving valve may be used. A not-shown controller isprovided in the dispenser 12. The controller controls an opening degreeof the flow-rate control valve 53 on the basis of a detection value ofthe second pressure sensor 54. In the following explanation, a regiondownstream of the flow-rate control valve 53 of the dispenser 12 and thevehicle 14 are collectively referred to as “demand section”.

In the gas supply device 10, the first compressor 22 and the accumulator30 are connected in series in the main channel 161. The lead-in sidevalve 34 and the lead-out side valve 38 are opened, whereby the gassupply device 10 is brought into a state in which the hydrogen gas canbe lead into the accumulator 30 from the first compressor 22 via thelead-in line 18 a and a state in which the hydrogen gas can be lead outto the dispenser 12 from the accumulator 30 via the lead-out line 18 b.In the following explanation, an operation mode of the gas supply device10 for enabling both of lead-in of the hydrogen gas into the accumulator30 and lead-out of the hydrogen gas from the accumulator 30 is referredto as “series differential pressure filling operation”. That is, thecontroller 58 is capable of executing an operation mode forsimultaneously bringing the lead-in side valve 34 and the lead-out sidevalve 38 into an open state and leading out the hydrogen gas from theaccumulator 30 while leading the hydrogen gas into the accumulator 30.

Further, the gas supply device 10 is connected to the dispenser 12 viathe short-circuit passage 162 (i.e., not through the accumulator 30).Therefore, the gas supply device 10 can directly deliver the entireamount of the hydrogen gas, which is discharged from the firstcompressor 22, to the dispenser 12 by closing the lead-in side valve 34and the lead-out side valve 38. In the following explanation, anoperation mode of the gas supply device 10 for delivering the hydrogengas from the first compressor 22 to the dispenser 12 withoutintervention of the accumulator 30 is referred to as “direct fillingoperation”. That is, the controller 58 is capable of executing anoperation mode for driving the first compressor 22 in a state in whichthe lead-in side valve 34 and the lead-out side valve 38 aresimultaneously closed.

The gas supply device 10 can also perform operation for supplying thehydrogen gas from the accumulator 30 to the dispenser 12 in a state inwhich delivery of the hydrogen gas from the first compressor 22 to theaccumulator 30 is stopped. In the following explanation, this operationmode is distinguished from the series differential pressure fillingoperation and referred to as “differential pressure filling operation”.That is, the controller 58 is capable of executing an operation mode inwhich the lead-in side valve 34 is closed and the lead-out side valve 38is opened.

The controller 58 of the gas supply device 10 is capable of switchingthe series differential pressure filling operation, the direct fillingoperation, and the differential pressure filling operation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relation between the pressure of thehydrogen gas in the demand section and time. Straight lines 92 and 93indicated by solid lines illustrate temporal transitions of the pressureof the hydrogen gas in the demand section. A straight line 91 indicatedby a broken line indicates a temporal transition of a target pressure ofthe hydrogen gas. Note that, in FIG. 3, a start time of filling ofhydrogen in the vehicle 14 is set as the origin. For convenience ofillustration, portions where the tilts of the straight lines 91 to 93are the same are vertically shifted and shown.

In the hydrogen station, the pressure of the hydrogen gas in the demandsection is controlled to increase according to the target pressureindicated by the straight line 91 in FIG. 3. The pressure in the tank ofthe vehicle 14 reaches a final pressure Pt (e.g., 70 MPa) in apredetermined time ts (e.g., 3 minutes).

Operation control of the gas supply device 10 according to thisembodiment is explained with reference to FIG. 2. The gas supply device10 operates as explained below, whereby a gas supply method forsupplying the hydrogen gas to the dispenser 12 is carried out. Note thatstorage work of the hydrogen gas in the storage tank 26 by the secondcompressor 24 is intermittently performed on the basis of the pressureof the hydrogen gas in the storage tank 26. In the followingexplanation, attention is directed to the operation of the devicesfurther on the downstream side than the second compressor 24 and thestorage tank 26 of the gas supply device 10.

Gas supply to the dispenser 12 is started when a gas supply command isissued from the dispenser 12 to the gas supply device 10. When the gassupply command is issued, first, the controller 58 starts the firstcompressor 22. The controller 58 closes the first on-off valve 41 andopens the return valve 46 until the first compressor 22 is brought intoa standby state, that is, a state in which the hydrogen gas can bedelivered to the lead-in line 18 a of the gas flow passage 16. Thehydrogen gas circulates between the first compressor 22 and the returnchannel 45 without being substantially compressed by the firstcompressor 22. The controller 58 of the gas supply device 10 opens thelead-out side valve 38 and the second on-off valve 42 and performs thedifferential pressure filling operation until the first compressor 22 isbrought into the standby state (step ST11). Note that, at this point,the lead-in side valve 34 is closed. In the dispenser 12, the openingdegree of the flow-rate control valve 53 is controlled such that adetection result of the second pressure sensor 54 reaches the targetpressure. Therefore, the pressure of the hydrogen gas in the demandsection gradually increases according to the target pressure indicatedby the straight line 91 as indicated by the straight line 92 in FIG. 3.

When the first compressor 22 is brought into the standby state, thecontroller 58 opens the first on-off valve 41 and the lead-in side valve34 of the lead-in line 18 a and closes the return valve 46.Consequently, the operation of the gas supply device 10 shifts to theseries differential pressure filling operation (step ST12). The firstcompressor 22 delivers the hydrogen gas to the lead-in line 18 a of thegas flow passage 16. Note that the return valve 46 does not need to becompletely closed. A flow rate of the hydrogen gas delivered from thefirst compressor 22 may be adjusted by adjusting an opening degree ofthe return valve 46.

When a part further on the downstream side than the first compressor 22of the main channel 161 and the short-circuit passage 162 (hereinaftercollectively referred to as “downstream section 161 a”) and theaccumulator 30 are grasped as one system, in the series differentialpressure filling operation, the hydrogen gas is supplied to thedispenser 12 according to a pressure difference between the system andthe demand section. A flow rate of the hydrogen gas is controlled by theflow-rate control valve 53, whereby the pressure of the hydrogen gas inthe demand section (see the straight line 92 in FIG. 3) graduallyincreases according to the target pressure.

In the series differential pressure filling operation, the controller 58controls the number of revolutions of the first compressor 22 on thebasis of a detection value of the first pressure sensor 48 such that thepressure of the hydrogen gas in the downstream section 161 a and theaccumulator 30 reaches the set pressure (e.g., 82 MPa). Note that dataobtained by processing the detection value of the first pressure sensor48 may be used for the control of the number of revolutions of the firstcompressor 22. Consequently, even if the differential pressure fillingoperation is performed beforehand, the pressure in the accumulator 30quickly rises. The pressure in the downstream section 161 a and theaccumulator 30 is maintained fixed. However, when a flow rate of thehydrogen gas requested from the dispenser 12 (hereinafter referred to as“requested amount”) exceeds an upper limit of a flow rate that can bedelivered from the first compressor 22 (hereinafter referred to as“upper limit amount”), a difference between the requested amount and theupper limit amount is led out from the accumulator 30 to the dispenser12. The pressure in the accumulator 30 and the downstream section 161 adrops. In this way, the pressure of the hydrogen gas (in other words, anamount of the hydrogen gas) in the accumulator 30 increases or decreasesaccording to a relation between the flow rate of the hydrogen gasdelivered from the first compressor 22 and the requested amountrequested by the dispenser 12.

When the pressure in the tank in the vehicle 14 reaches the finalpressure Pt (see FIG. 3), the filling of the hydrogen gas from thedispenser 12 to the vehicle 14 is stopped. The supply of the hydrogengas from the gas supply device 10 to the dispenser 12 is also stopped.Note that the direct filling operation explained below is performeddepending on the size of the tank of the vehicle 14.

As explained above, the series differential pressure filling operationis performed in the gas supply device 10, whereby the drop of thepressure in the accumulator 30 is suppressed compared with when only thedifferential pressure filling operation is performed. Consequently, itis possible to reduce time required for raising the pressure in theaccumulator 30 to the set pressure, a so-called recovery time. It ispossible to quickly start filling of the hydrogen gas in the nextvehicle 14.

Incidentally, as explained above, when the requested amount from thedispenser 12 exceeds the upper limit amount of the first compressor 22halfway in the filling of the hydrogen gas in the vehicle 14, thepressure in the downstream section 161 a and the accumulator 30 drops.In particular, in the case of the vehicle 14 having a large capacity ofthe tank, since a large amount of the hydrogen gas is necessary, thepressure in the downstream section 161 a and the accumulator 30 greatlydrops. In a state in which the pressure in the downstream section 161 aand the accumulator 30 drops, when the pressure in the tank of thevehicle 14 rises to the vicinity of the final pressure (pressure atfully filled time), a pressure difference between the pressure in thedownstream section 161 a and the accumulator 30 and the pressure in thedemand section becomes excessively small. Therefore, as indicated by thestraight line 93 in FIG. 3, it is likely that the pressure of thehydrogen gas in the demand section greatly falls below the targetpressure.

Therefore, if a difference ΔP (i.e., a pressure difference) between adetection value P1 of the first pressure sensor 48 and a detection valueP2 of the second pressure sensor 54 is equal to or smaller than a setvalue A (step ST13), the controller 58 closes the lead-in side valve 34while keeping the first on-off valve 41 and the second on-off valve 42open and blocks the inflow of the hydrogen gas into the accumulator 30.Consequently, the operation of the gas supply device 10 shifts to thedirect filling operation (step ST14). Consequently, the entire amount ofthe hydrogen gas is delivered from the first compressor 22 to thedispenser 12 via the short-circuit passage 162. The controller 58controls the number of revolutions of the first compressor 22 such thatthe detection value of the second pressure sensor 54 reaches the targetpressure. Therefore, the pressure of the hydrogen gas in the demandsection increases according to the target pressure. Note that thecontrol of the number of revolutions of the first compressor 22 may beperformed by comparing the data obtained by processing the detectionvalue of the second pressure sensor 54 with the target pressure.

When the pressure in the tank of the vehicle 14 reaches the finalpressure Pt, the filling of the hydrogen gas from the dispenser 12 tothe vehicle 14 is stopped.

The embodiment of the present invention is explained above. In the gassupply device 10, the first compressor 22 is connected to theaccumulator 30 in series in the main channel 161. The lead-in side valve34 and the lead-out side valve 38 are opened, whereby the hydrogen gascan be led in from the first compressor 22 to the accumulator 30 and thehydrogen gas can be lead out from the accumulator 30 to the dispenser12. Consequently, it is possible to suppress a drop of the pressure inthe accumulator 30 during the driving of the gas supply device 10compared with the gas supply device that performs only the differentialpressure filling operation. As a result, it is possible to reduce therecovery time of the accumulator 30. It is possible to quickly start thefilling of the hydrogen gas in the next vehicle 14.

In the series differential pressure filling operation, the number ofrevolutions of the first compressor 22 is controlled on the basis of thedetection result of the first pressure sensor 48 such that the pressureof the hydrogen gas in the downstream section 161 a is maintained at theset pressure. Therefore, the drop of the pressure of the hydrogen gas inthe downstream section 161 a and the accumulator 30 is furthersuppressed. Further, the pressure in the downstream section 161 a andthe accumulator 30 located on the upstream side of the dispenser 12 ismaintained fixed, whereby the control of the pressure (or the flow rate)of the hydrogen gas by the flow-rate control valve 53 is facilitated.

In this embodiment, the hydrogen gas is delivered from the accumulator30 to the dispenser 12 before the first compressor 22 is brought intothe standby state. Consequently, it is possible to quickly fill thehydrogen gas in the vehicle 14 carried into the hydrogen station.

Since the short-circuit passage 162 is provided in the gas flow passage16, it is possible to easily switch the operation of the gas supplydevice 10 from the series differential pressure filling operation to thedirect filling operation. In the direct filling operation, the number ofrevolutions of the first compressor 22 is controlled on the basis of thedetection result of the second pressure sensor 54. Therefore, it ispossible to increase the pressure of the hydrogen gas in the demandsection according to the target pressure.

In the gas supply device 10, the hydrogen gas in the gas supply source20 is compressed using the second compressor 24, which is the othercompressor other than the first compressor 22. The compressed hydrogengas is stored in the storage tank 26. The first compressor 22 uses thestored gas, whereby a compression ratio (i.e., a pressure ratio on thesuction side and the discharge side) in the first compressor 22 can besuppressed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the first compressor 22in size.

In the gas supply device 10, in the shift from the series differentialpressure filling operation to the direct filling operation, when a ratio(i.e., P1/P2) of the detection value P1 of the first pressure sensor 48to the detection value P2 of the second pressure sensor 54 is equal toor smaller than a set value, the controller 58 may close the lead-inside valve 34 and block the flow of the hydrogen gas from the firstcompressor 22 to the accumulator 30. In this way, if the gas supplydevice 10 shifts to the direct filling operation on the basis of apressure change between the first pressure sensor 48 and the secondpressure sensor 54, opening and closing of the lead-in side valve 34 maybe performed on the basis of various arithmetic operations.

Further, as another example of the opening and closing control of thelead-in side valve 34 in the shift from the series differential pressurefilling operation to the direct filling operation, when the detectionvalue P2 of the second pressure sensor 54 reaches a set value Pd, whichis a value smaller than a target pressure Pm, the controller 58 mayclose the lead-in side valve 34 and block the flow of the hydrogen gasfrom the first compressor 22 to the accumulator 30. The controller 58may perform the opening and the closing of the lead-in side valve 34 onthe basis of whether a difference between the target pressure Pm and thedetection value P2 reaches a set value. The controller 58 may performthe opening and the closing of the lead-in side valve 34 on the basis ofa ratio of the detection value P2 to the target pressure Pm. In thisway, if the gas supply device 10 shifts to the direct filling operationon the basis of the change in the detection value of the second pressuresensor 54 with respect to the target pressure Pm, the opening and theclosing of the lead-in side valve 34 may be performed on the basis ofvarious arithmetic operations.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.Various changes, improvements, and the like are possible in a range notdeparting from the spirit of the present invention. For example, asshown in FIG. 4, the short-circuit passage 162 may be omitted. Even inthis case, since the first compressor 22 is connected to the accumulator30 in series, the lead-in side valve 34 and the lead-out side valve 38are opened. Consequently, it is possible to lead the hydrogen gas intothe accumulator 30 and lead out the hydrogen gas from the accumulator 30to the dispenser 12. It is possible to suppress the drop of the pressurein the accumulator 30 during the operation of the gas supply device 10.

In the embodiment, when the first compressor 22 is in the standby stateat a point in time when the vehicle 14 is carried in, the differentialpressure filling operation does not always need to be performed.

In the embodiment, the first pressure sensor 48 may be disposed in thedownstream section 161 a of the main channel 161, more specifically,between the first compressor 22 and the first on-off valve 41. In thiscase, pressure equivalent to the pressure in the accumulator 30 ismeasured by the first pressure sensor 48. The first pressure sensor 48may be directly attached to the accumulator 30. In this case, the firstpressure sensor 48 is configured to detect the pressure in theaccumulator 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lead-in line 18 a and the lead-out line 18 b maybe configured by one pipe 18. In this case, a valve member 39 such as anon-off valve is provided in the pipe 18.

In this embodiment, the second compressor 24 and the storage tank 26 areprovided. However, the second compressor 24 and the storage tank 26 maybe omitted. The hydrogen gas may be directly sent from the gas supplysource 20 to the first compressor 22. The gas supply device 10 may beused for filling the hydrogen gas in a tank mounting device other thanthe vehicle. The gas supply device may be used for supply of gas otherthan the hydrogen gas.

The embodiment is generally explained.

(1) In the embodiment, since the compressor is connected to theaccumulator in series, it is possible to lead the gas into theaccumulator and it is possible to lead out the gas from the accumulatorto the filling equipment. Since the compressor supplies the gas, it ispossible to suppress a drop of the pressure in the accumulator duringthe operation of the gas supply device. As a result, it is possible toreduce the recovery time of the accumulator. It is possible to quicklystart filling of the gas in the next tank amounting device.

(2) The gas supply device may further include a pressure detectingsection that detects the pressure in the accumulator or pressureequivalent to the pressure. In this case, when the compressor deliversthe gas to the gas flow passage, the control device may control thenumber of revolutions of the compressor on the basis of a detectionresult of the pressure detecting section such that pressure of the gasis maintained at a predetermined pressure.

In this form, it is possible to further suppress the drop of thepressure in the accumulator. As a result, it is easier to control thesupply of the gas from the filling equipment to the vehicle.

(3) The gas flow passage may include: a main channel including thelead-in line and the lead-out line and connecting the compressor, theaccumulator, and the filling equipment; and a short-circuit passage thatshort-circuits the lead-in line and the lead-out line to enable sendingof the gas from the compressor to the filling equipment not through theaccumulator. Another pressure detecting section may be provided in thefilling equipment. In this case, the control device may close thelead-in side valve on the basis of a pressure change between thepressure detecting section and the other pressure detecting section andcontrol the number of revolutions of the compressor on the basis of adetection result of the other pressure detecting section.

In this form, in a state in which a gas inflow from the compressor tothe accumulator is blocked, it is possible to directly perform the gassupply from the compressor to the filling equipment (the direct fillingoperation). Consequently, the entire amount of the gas delivered fromthe compressor is supplied to the filling equipment. A flow rate (orpressure) of the gas filled in the tank mounting device from the fillingequipment is secured.

(4) The gas flow passage may include: a main channel including thelead-in line and the lead-out line and connecting the compressor, theaccumulator, and the filling equipment; and a short-circuit passage thatshort-circuits the lead-in line and the lead-out line to enable sendingof the gas from the compressor to the filling equipment not through theaccumulator. Another pressure detecting section may be provided in thefilling equipment. In this case, the control device may close thelead-in side valve on the basis of a change in a detection value of theother pressure detecting section with respect to a target pressure ofthe gas in the filling equipment and control the number of revolutionsof the compressor on the basis of a detection result of the otherpressure detecting section.

In this form, in a state in which a gas inflow from the compressor tothe accumulator is blocked, it is possible to directly perform the gassupply from the compressor to the filling equipment (the direct fillingoperation). Consequently, the entire amount of the gas delivered fromthe compressor is supplied to the filling equipment. A flow rate (orpressure) of the gas filled in the tank mounting device from the fillingequipment is secured.

(5) The control device may be configured to be capable of bringing thelead-in side valve into a closed state and bringing the lead-out sidevalve to an open state. In this form, it is possible to supply the gasto the filling equipment according to the differential pressure fillingoperation.

(6) The gas supply device may further include: another compressor thatcompresses gas of a gas supply source; and a storage tank that storesthe gas discharged from the other compressor. In this case, thecompressor may suck the gas in the storage tank.

In this form, the gas discharged from the other compressor is stored inthe storage tank. The stored gas is compressed in the compressor.Consequently, it is possible to suppress a compression ratio in thecompressor. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the compressor in size.

(7) The embodiment is a hydrogen station including: the gas supplydevice; and filling equipment connected to an outflow end of the gassupply device. The filling equipment fills hydrogen gas supplied fromthe gas supply device in the tank mounting device.

(8) The embodiment is a gas supply method by a gas supply device, thegas supply device including: a compressor that compresses gas; anaccumulator disposed downstream of the compressor and supplying the gasto filling equipment that fills the gas in a tank mounting device; and agas flow passage that connects the compressor, the accumulator, and thefilling equipment. The gas supply method includes a step of leading thegas from the compressor into the accumulator and, at the same time,leading out the gas from the accumulator to the filling equipment.

In the embodiment, since the compressor is connected to the accumulatorin series, it is possible to lead the gas into the accumulator and it ispossible to lead out the gas from the accumulator to the fillingequipment. Since the compressor supplies the gas, it is possible tosuppress a drop of the pressure in the accumulator during the operationof the gas supply device. As a result, it is possible to reduce therecovery time of the accumulator. It is possible to quickly startfilling of the gas in the next tank amounting device.

(9) The gas flow passage may include a pressure detecting sectiondisposed downstream of the compressor. In this case, in the gas supplymethod, when the compressor delivers the gas to the gas flow passage,the number of revolutions of the compressor may be controlled on thebasis of a detection result of the pressure detecting section such thatpressure of the gas is maintained at a predetermined pressure.

In this form, it is possible to further suppress the drop of thepressure in the accumulator. As a result, it is easier to control thesupply of the gas from the filling equipment to the vehicle.

(10) In the gas supply method, the flow of the gas from the compressorto the accumulator may be blocked on the basis of a pressure changebetween the pressure detecting section and another pressure detectingsection provided in the filling equipment. The number of revolutions ofthe compressor may be controlled on the basis of a detection result ofthe other pressure detecting section. The gas may be sent from thecompressor to the filling equipment not through the accumulator.

In this form, in a state in which a gas inflow from the compressor tothe accumulator is blocked, it is possible to directly perform the gassupply from the compressor to the filling equipment (the direct fillingoperation). Consequently, the entire amount of the gas delivered fromthe compressor is supplied to the filling equipment. A flow rate (orpressure) of the gas filled in the tank mounting device from the fillingequipment is secured.

(11) In the gas supply method, a flow of the gas from the compressor tothe accumulator may be blocked on the basis of a change in a detectionvalue of another pressure detecting section provided in the fillingequipment with respect to a target pressure of the gas in the fillingequipment. In this case, the number of revolutions of the compressor maybe controlled on the basis of a detection result of the other pressuredetecting section and the gas may be sent from the compressor to thefilling equipment not through the accumulator.

(12) In the gas supply method, the gas may be delivered from theaccumulator to the filling equipment before the compressor is broughtinto a state in which the gas can be delivered to the lead-in line. Inthis form, it is possible to quickly supply the gas to the fillingequipment.

(13) In the gas supply method, the gas supply device may furtherinclude: another compressor that compresses gas of a gas supply source;and a storage tank that stores the gas discharged from the othercompressor. In this case, the compressor may suck the gas in the storagetank.

As explained above, according to the embodiment, it is possible tosuppress the gas pressure in the accumulator from dropping.

1. A gas supply method by a gas supply device, the gas supply deviceincluding: a compressor that compresses gas; an accumulator disposeddownstream of the compressor and supplying the gas to filling equipmentthat fills the gas in a tank mounting device; and a gas flow passagethat connects the compressor, the accumulator, and the fillingequipment, the gas supply method comprising a step of leading the gasfrom the compressor into the accumulator and, at the same time, leadingout the gas from the accumulator to the filling equipment.
 2. The gassupply method according to claim 1, wherein the gas flow passageincludes a pressure detecting section disposed downstream of thecompressor, and when the compressor delivers the gas to the gas flowpassage, the number of revolutions of the compressor is controlled onthe basis of a detection result of the pressure detecting section suchthat pressure of the gas is maintained at a predetermined pressure. 3.The gas supply method according to claim 2, wherein a flow of the gasfrom the compressor to the accumulator is blocked on the basis of apressure change between the pressure detecting section and anotherpressure detecting section provided in the filling equipment, and thenumber of revolutions of the compressor is controlled on the basis of adetection result of the other pressure detecting section, and the gas issent from the compressor to the filling equipment not through theaccumulator.
 4. The gas supply method according to claim 2, wherein aflow of the gas from the compressor to the accumulator is blocked on thebasis of a change in a detection value of another pressure detectingsection provided in the filling equipment with respect to a targetpressure of the gas in the filling equipment, and the number ofrevolutions of the compressor is controlled on the basis of a detectionresult of the other pressure detecting section, and the gas is sent fromthe compressor to the filling equipment not through the accumulator. 5.The gas supply method according to claim 1, wherein the gas is deliveredfrom the accumulator to the filling equipment before the compressor isbrought into a state in which the gas can be delivered to the lead-inline.
 6. The gas supply method according to claim 1, wherein the gassupply device further includes: another compressor that compresses gasof a gas supply source; and a storage tank that stores the gasdischarged from the other compressor, and the compressor sucks the gasin the storage tank.